1887 Birthday Hesketh Pearson, England, biographer/playwright, Writ for Libel 1871 Event President Grant suspends writ of habeas corpus 1871 Event 3rd Enforcement Act (President can suspend writ of habeas corpus) 1861 Event John Merryman is arrested under suspension of writ of habeas corpus it later sparks a supreme court decision protecting writ 1861 Event President Abe Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus
